Walker Of The Worlds

2757  Wanchai Rippling Tea House

As the realization sank in, Lin Mu suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. The city had unknowingly started worshipping his beasts as some kind of vengeful guardian spirits.

And knowing Ashy, Xiao Yin, and Xiao Yang…

This was only the beginning of the chaos.

Wanting to get rid of this headache, Lin Mu decided to enjoy some tea in a nearby place. He walked for a short while and found a rather nice-looking establishment.

”Thatʼs rather big for a tea house…” Lin Mu muttered as he gazed at what was essentially a small palace.

It was larger than any other restaurant in the area and covered at least a square kilometer.

ʼWanchai Rippling Tea Houseʼ

Lin Mu read the name, finding it rather pleasant. He stepped inside and was immediately met by an overly enthusiastic staff. The waiters practically materialized at his side, ushering him toward a table with the energy of men who had been waiting for a whale-sized customer all day.

He was led to an inner courtyard surrounded by a circular lake.

”To have an entire lake inside a tea house… they sure went all out,” Lin Mu mused as his gaze fell upon the shimmering water, where Silver Scale Carps swam leisurely.

These were no ordinary fish. They were Immortal Beasts that ate nothing but silver. As a result, their scales turned into pure Immortal Silver. Raising even one or two of them was a sign of extreme wealth.

And in this lake, there were hundreds of them.

”Just the silver expenditure alone must be a ton or more every month,” Lin Mu murmured, shaking his head at the sheer opulence.

While he was contemplating the financial madness of it all, a waiter approached, holding a jade slip.

”I see youʼre admiring our Silver Scale Carps, sir. Would you care to try one of our signature teas, specially crafted to complement their graceful movements?” the waiter asked smoothly, his words practically rehearsed to perfection.

”Oh? And what might that be?” Lin Mu asked, genuinely intrigued.

”It is called the Rippling Silver Lake Tea,” the waiter said with a practiced smile. ”Made from a one-of-a-kind tea, cultivated and perfected over thousands of years exclusively for our establishment.”

”That does sound interesting. Iʼll have some,” Lin Mu nodded.

”A wise choice, sir. While you wait, allow me to bring a selection of snacks to accompany your tea. I highly recommend our Rippling Custard.”

”Iʼll give it a try,” Lin Mu agreed.

Shortly after, another waiter arrived, bearing a tray of snacks, among which was the Rippling Custard along with several other sweet and savory delights.

Lin Muʼs gaze settled on the bowl of custard, which—oddly enough—was constantly rippling, despite no external force acting upon it.

ʼWhat kind of trickery is this?ʼ Lin Mu thought, leaning closer.

Upon closer inspection, he realized the ripples werenʼt from movement but rather from the energy contained within the custard itself.

ʼThe immortal Qi in this… itʼs more potent than most immortal foods.ʼ

Curious, he picked up a spoon and scooped a bit of the soft, jiggly custard. Its creamy white surface quivered slightly as he brought it to his mouth.

As soon as it touched his tongue, Lin Muʼs eyes widened.

”Mmm!”

The initial sweetness was light and airy, with a hint of cardamom adding an unexpected but welcome depth. But then, a wave of rippling energy spread through his mouth before traveling down his throat and settling warmly in his stomach.

Each ripple helped the energy assimilate more efficiently into his body.

ʼThis effect… Itʼs better than some alchemical pills!ʼ Lin Mu was genuinely impressed.

Then, a thought struck him.

”How much does this cost?” he muttered to himself.

He hadnʼt checked the prices before ordering, but the waiter had conveniently left the jade slip menu on the table.

With a tap, the menu projected the prices in shimmering golden letters.

Lin Muʼs brows shot up.

”No wonder…”

A tray of snacks—fifty High-Grade Immortal Stones.

A single pot of Rippling Silver Lake Tea—also fifty High-Grade Immortal Stones.

Lin Mu exhaled sharply.

He scanned the room, observing the other patrons enjoying their tea and snacks. Without exception, they all exuded an air of wealth and nobility, decked out in extravagant robes, golden accessories, and immortal silk garments.

The more he looked, the more he noticed. Every single person here had a crest or emblem on their attire, denoting their sect, clan, or merchant guild.

ʼImmortal Sects… Noble Clans… and rich merchants,ʼ Lin Mu noted.

It finally clicked.

This was not a place for ordinary people.

What made Lin Mu stand out, however, was the fact that he was sitting alone. Every other patron was either with their companions or engaged in business discussions.

And then, another realization hit him.

He had walked straight into this exclusive, high-end market district without even noticing.

ʼMeng Bai and the others must have wandered here without realizing too…ʼ

And that explained why he had ended up bumping into that arrogant young master earlier.

But more importantly…

It explained why the shopkeepers here were so nonchalantly throwing around gems and jewelry as offerings to the ʼghostʼ haunting their storesʼ.

The nobles had money to burn, and if it meant keeping their businesses safe from vengeful spirits—well, throwing in a few precious jewels wasnʼt much of a loss.

Lin Mu pinched the bridge of his nose.

This headache was getting worse.

At that moment, the Rippling Silver Lake Tea finally arrived.

Perhaps a good cup of tea would help him forget the impending disaster that was undoubtedly brewing somewhere in the city… likely courtesy of his troublemaking beasts.

Ashy had managed to scam some rich individuals who now kept on giving offerings regularly. Or at the very least until they were still in the Capital City.

A short while later, Lin Mu finished his custard and looked around the area.

ʼNow that I think of it, I shouldʼve figured it out from its size. All the materials used for this tea house are all high end too.ʼ Lin Mu thought to himself.